Improvement in meat-cutting machines



' ZSheets-SheetL T. WILLI..

MEAT-CUTTING MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 26, 1876.

2 Sheets-.Sheet Z. T. WILLI.

MEAT-CUTTING MACHINE.

No.182,730, Patented Sept. 26,1876.

MPEYERS, PHOTO-L :THOGRAPHER WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITEDS'IA'IES PATENT OFFICE rnnonoan- WILLI, oF Quincy, ILLINOIS, AAssIcIvoR oF one-HALF Hrs meer To WILLIAM HUNERWEDEL, on SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN lMEAT-CUTTING MACHINES.

i -Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182,730, datedSeptember 26, 1876; application filed August 5, 1876. 1

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, THEonoRE WILLI, of Quincy, in the county of Adamsand State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in.Meat-Machines, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

. The invention relates to meat-machines;

' and consists in the devices hereinafter more view of theknife-clearer; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one ofthe knives.

In the accompanying drawings, the frame supporting the device consistsof the forked legs A A, which are connected near theirfork by thetie-brace a, above which the forks unite into the single verticalstandards B B, which are connected by the tie-braces b d. The center ofthe brace a is provided with a step or seat to receive the lower end ofthe threaded pivot D, the upper end of which is fixed in the center ofthe block E, below which, and about the pivot, is placed a nut, c,which, being turned, suffices to elevate ordepress the block. The blockE is composed of any suitable material, and is circular in outline, itsupper surface being beveled downward toward its outer edge, whereonthere is provided a rim, F, recessed into the block, and serving toprevent the escape of the material being operated upon, another rim, H,being provided for a like purpose near thel center of the block. Withinthe rim H there is firmly secured to the center of the block E the crowngearwheel I, which is driven by a vertical shaft, j', extending upwardand passing through the brace b, above which it is provided with thebevelgear wheel h, which engages a bevelgear-wheel, t', upon one end ofthe shaft l, which works on bearings in the standards on the brace, andhas one end extending beyond the standard B, whereat it is provided withthe crank or crank-wheel m to give it motion. Thus the revolution of thecrank m will rotate the block E. To the brace- I), between the standardB and the crown-gear I, are secured the frames L, which extend towardthe face of ing, as more is there required in the operation of thedevice. At the base of .the frames L, mount-ed loosely upon the bars r,are provided the axles t, the inner ends of which are furnished withbeveled pinions u, that engage the crown gear-wheel I. Thus the axles tstand on the line of radii, having a center at the center of the blockE. Between the inner walls of the frames L the axle tis provided with aconical enlargement, o, having its apex toward the center and its basetoward the circumference of the block E. Upon the cone o are arrangedthe concavo-convex knives P, which are arranged in graduated order,those less in diameter being near the center of the block. Thus theplane of the cutting-edges of the knives corresponds with the level ofthe block.

rIhe knives are made concave-convex for several reasons, among which maybe numerated thefollowing, so that when they are arranged in groups theknives of one groupmay pass between the spaces, separating the knives ofthe other group, and thereby operate as strippers, or, being advancedmore closely, may act upon the cone of the opposite knives as upon achopping-block to further reduce the material. The concavoconvexconstruction presents an arch between the axle and edge of the knife,giving it an elastic action, so that it can bend inward when passingover an indurate piece of material. The said construction of the knivesgreatly facilitates their operation ,when the annular strips areemployed, since the edges of the knives will pass smoothly between them,closely following the line of the curvature of the channel between thestrips. The axles t are arranged in relation to each other, so that theknives upon one cone may pass between the spaces separating the kniveson the other cone; hence one set of knives operate as a stripper to theother. This they readily' can do, owing to their peculiar shape, whichalso gives them a spring# bearing from circumference to center. rlheedges of the knives comejust above the upper surface of the block, theintention being not to have them impinge the same any more than isnecessary to effecttheir object. The block may, if desired, be providedwith annular metallic channels, wherein the knives can travel, but theblock answers all ordinary purposes.`

To collect and turn the material, and also to clear the knife, there issecured to the frame L the stripper R, the rear end of which is`provided with the slots w, through which the knives P pass, beingthereby cleared of any adhering material. The other portion of thestripper extends forward its lateral curves,

The relative movementfof theknives and block is about as siX to one,though this may be reduced or quickened according to the Vnumber ofteeth employed on the crown-gear.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,-is-,v

1. The concavoconvex knives, arrangedin groups and revolving in onedirection, in combination with a revolving cutting-block rotating in acontrary direction, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a group of' circular knives, having an elastictension, of an adjustable rotating chopping or cutting surface whichconforms to the line of the edges of the knives, substantially as setforth.

3. The combination of two or more groups of concavo-convexl knives, theedges of which pass between the spaces separating the knives ot' theother group, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The cone r, provided with the concavoconvex knives P, in combinationwith the spring M, substantially as set forth.

5. The stripper R, in combination with the spring fr, for the purposesspecified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing improvement in meat-machines, asabove described, I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day 0f July,1876.

'rHEoDoRE WILLI.

Witnesses:

H. K. RoD'oLF, W. B. BUsHNELL.

